Cry of the Taniwha by Des Hunt

Cry of the Taniwha (Harper Collins, 2009)

This book is a runaway read. It only took me a few days to get through and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Aimed at older Primary , junior Secondary level, it is the story of Matt Logan, a boy on holidays with a metal detector. Matt discovers more than just a few gold coins when he goes detecting at Rotorua. He manages to unearth a mystery that has remained secret for over a hundred years.
   The first two chapters outline the historical crime but the rest of the narrative deals with the present including the tourists and the street gangs. Matt befriends Juzza, a youth determined to join a gang and Eve, an Aussie with a talent for research. The character of Juzza is well drawn as it's hard to determine where his loyalties lie. There is also a revered heron who takes part in the story.
   I think anyone who enjoys a mystery would like this novel. The pace is steady and the tension climbs well to the resolution. There is even a surprise ending...
   This book is probably too easy for PSSC students but it's still a great experience. It was shortlisted for the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards.

My Island Home by John Singe

My Island home (UQP, 2003)

I am ashamed to say that I never finished My Island Home. I tried to read it several times and I really wanted to finish it but I found the author's style turned me off. Not that he's a poor writer in terms of his command of English. It was the structure that failed to hold my attention.
   The black and white photos in the centre are delightful and I am sure that Singe's vast experience of more than 30 years in the Torres Strait bubbles with interesting anecdotes, customs and stories. However I found myself getting lost very quickly in the rambling and disjointed narrative he has written. This is such a pity as I could see dozens of opportunities in each chapter that were worth expanding and turning into heart-felt or humorous stories. Singe's rushed and crowded structure lacked connection with characters and so I felt little empathy with anyone he wrote about. I wish I could say more positive things but this book was truly hard work and I only managed to finish the first two chapters.